This article will describe procedures that should be done before foaling, the events that take place just prior to foaling, what events take place during a normal foaling–along with the normal post-foaling events–and will describe some of
A mare is at the greatest risk of a deadly complication associated with foaling known as hemorrhage in the 24-48 hours after giving birth. However, it is important to note that hemorrhage can occur at any time during gestation, and that it shoul
The mare has a long gestational period and to be a yearly producer she must be back in foal, on average, 25 days from giving birth. It is important to understand all the processes that take place in the period from parturition to the restoration
Mares grazing on tall fescue pastures infected with a toxin have increased gestation lengths, mare and foal deaths, agalactia (absent milk secretion after birth), retained placentas, premature separation of the placenta at birth, and increased placental weights and thickness.
A total of 2,351 equine veterinarians–a record attendance–descended on Lexington for the 41st annual American Association of Equine Practitioners convention. Committee business dominated the day on Dec. 2, with 21 of the association’s 40
Any way you look at it, building a barn is a major undertaking. Doing it right the first time, to avoid headaches later, is the smart approach. In addition to the usual considerations of location, aesthetics, cost, and
Readers Respond
August’s Behavior column (article #914) sparked heated debate about euthanasia for horses with incurable panic attacks. This month we feature two readers’ responses and the author’s comments.
It was a
Artificial Insemination (AI) involves the introduction of sperm into the reproductive tract of the mare without natural mating. AI in the horse was first practiced long ago. Ancient Arabian texts describe how mares were successfully inseminated.
One plus one plus one equals one. The stallion, dam, and surrogate dam probably never met, but all three contributed to produce a foal. Today’s assisted breeding technologies can overcome the constraints of distance, competitive involvement,
Ovariectomy is a procedure that generally is performed to remove an abnormal ovary. Occasionally, an ovariectomy is performed in fillies or mares which have particularly bad behavior during their heat cycle in an effort to make them more
Back in the days when horses pulled the plows and harvesting machines across agricultural America, it was not uncommon to see a team of horses trudging over a field with a young foal trailing behind one of the mares. Many farmers could not affor
In a world of artificial insemination and embryo transfer, simplicity can prevail. Registered stallions and mares can breed with minimal human intervention, through natural cover in the pasture. Pasture breeding continues as an
Anyone who has witnessed a foal’s first few minutes in this world might agree that one of the most miraculous parts of the process is the way a mare greets and bonds with her newborn. With a deep sniff at the baby’s nostrils, that distinctive
Bob Douglas, PhD, owner of BET Labs in Kentucky, specializes in working with veterinarians and farm owners to assist in reproductive problems of mares and stallions. He works with Northern and Southern Hemisphere breeders, and said his clients
Learn the basics of reproduction in the horse and how to use them to you the best results.
Q: I have heard that breeding a mare does irreversible damage to the ligaments, tendons, and muscles — that once a mare is bred, she can’t return to the performance ring, i.e., reining. Any reports or information on mares that have been
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